Another debate, another development in the race for Routt County sheriff. No bickering or thinly veiled insults occurred at Monday night's political forum, but the two candidates for sheriff again stole the show by sharply disagreeing about the amount of certification training Democratic private investigator Gary Wall would need should he defeat Republican police officer and narcotics investigator Garrett Wiggins in the Nov. 7 election. The standing-room-only event at Olympian Hall, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Routt County, came two days after a Northwest Political Agricultural Forum during which Wall publicly doubted Wiggins' ability to earn a promotion in law enforcement, and Wiggins questioned whether Wall had "half a brain in his head."

Gary Wall, the Democratic candidate for Routt County sheriff, filed for bankruptcy protection and had liens filed against him by the IRS in the 1990s. Garrett Wiggins, the Republican candidate, has never been arrested nor filed for bankruptcy. However, he acknowledged Wednesday that he has been reprimanded twice in his law enforcement career.

Routt County voters have very distinct choices when selecting their next sheriff. Democrat Gary Wall touts his experience as a leader in law enforcement, including stints as a detective, sergeant and police chief, experience his Republican opponent Garrett Wiggins doesn't have. Wiggins, a police officer and narcotics investigator with the Steamboat Springs police department, points out that Wall's law enforcement experience came nearly 30 years ago and that he hasn't been in uniform since leaving the Vail police chief's position in 1979.